Oleh/By : DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : PALACE OF THE GOLDEN HORSES
Tarikh/Date : 28/08/2002
Tajuk/Title : DINNER IN COMMEMORATION OF THE
20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOOK
EAST POLICY
Versi : ENGLISH
Penyampai : PM
It is indeed an honour and privilege for me to
address you on this occasion in conjunction with the
20th Anniversary of Malaysia's Look East Policy. I wish
to congratulate all parties concerned for their
effort in organising this evening's function and dinner.
2. When the Look East Policy was initiated it was a
great challenge to get the support and cooperation
within the country as well as from Japan and the
Republic of Korea. Many ask why we should look at the
countries which had copied the developments of Western
countries. Should it not be better to look at the
countries which had originated and developed the idea of
a modern industrial economy and learn from them instead?
They would really be better models. The whole world
looked at them for inspiration and guidance.
3. But in the post-war years Japan and Korea had risen
literally from the ashes to build powerful industrial
economies. Their experience is new and they still
remember how they did it.
4. The West had already forgotten the difficult years
of their industrialisation and is too fond of assuming
that the process is easy and natural. Growing an
economy is to them the most natural thing and anyone can
do it. But developing a country is not as easy as it is
made out. Only countries which had recently developed
can know the difficulties and how they overcome them.
Japan and Korea are relative newcomers and therefore
they make better models for us. We continue to Look
West but we decided to Look East as well.
5. Now after more than twenty years following the
introduction of the Look East Policy we have found
ourselves vindicated. We are the fastest growing and
the most developed of the developing countries in the
world.
6. But now harsh questions about the management
principles and practices of Japan and the Republic of
Korea have been raised and the continued relevance and
applicability of their model of development no doubt
needs to be re-examined. But we are still convinced
about the efficacy of Government / Private Sector
cooperation. The work ethics and basic philosophy of
Japan and Korea remain relevant in the economic
development of a nation.
7. Admittedly the world has changed and new ideas and
values have become current. We will all have to change
along with them. But it does not mean that all the
things which had served so well before will not work
anymore. We have therefore to be selective, retaining
the tried and tested methods which had yielded good
results before espousing new ways and values which are
merely likely to give good results. In any case even if
the new ways and practices are good, changing the old
for the new, in particular rapid change will always be
disruptive. We have to avoid disruption as much as
possible. We have a need therefore to be cautious.
8. We are still looking East at Japan and at Korea in
order to see whether abandoning the values and systems
which had helped them achieve phenomenal growth before
and adopting new ways, which in most cases are alien to
their culture, will bring good results or not. In other
words Looking East now is not just to copy everything
that is being done in the Eastern countries, but also to
learn what wrong steps or things that are being done
which we will have to avoid. Looking East is not
exclusively about learning how Eastern countries manage
their societies and their economies, but also learning
about how they mismanage their economies and fail. We
will then know what not to do.
9. Many have gleefully asked us whether we are still
Looking East. Well the answer is - we are still Looking
East in order to learn from the mistakes as much as from
the right things that they do. We believe that many of
the work ethics and management methods of the East are
still relevant. There is nothing wrong with the
discipline, hard work and dedication of the Japanese
work force, nor is it wrong to emulate the loyalty of
employees to their corporations. We note of course that
doing away with life-time employment may reduce cost for
the employers but there is no certainty of recovery or
profit. Indeed it creates intractable social problems
and it undermines the strength of the country.
10. Malaysia is anxious to become a developed country
by 2020. To achieve this we have to change our culture.
We really do not think the Western work culture is going
to work for us. Western culture is confrontational and
based on the winner taking all. Thus if there is
dispute between employers and employees, a test of
strength must be carried out. The employers will lock
out and the employees will go on strike. After
extensive damage to the business and one side or the
other gives in then the dispute is considered as having
been settled. But the damage that has been done and the
settlement reached, invariably increase the cost of
business. If profitability is to be achieved then
products must be increased in price. This may result in
an inability to compete in the market or reduced sale
and profitability. In some cases, the business suffers
so much that it has to be closed down. Both the
employers and the employees lose. And of course the
economy of the country also lose.
11. Another western solution when companies are losing
is to lay off workers. Government provision of
unemployment benefits help to support the unemployed
workers. After some time the unemployed workers prefer
to remain unemployed and to enjoy unemployment benefits
instead. And such unemployment pay can cost the country
a lot of unproductive money.
12. The problem with this is that it makes people lazy
and dependent, preferring not to work but to live on the
dole. Employment benefits can be paid if only a small
minority is unemployed while the majority work to
increase the wealth of the country and contribute to
Government funds. But as more and more prefer to live
on the dole and less and less workers generate wealth
for the country, then the unemployment benefits become
quite unaffordable.
13. For these and other reasons we don't think we can
accept western principles and work culture. The East
still offer us the best value systems which can help us
grow and develop. Eventually using the Eastern culture
we would be able to achieve developed country status.
14. The results of the Look East policy have vindicated
our strategy. The best trained and most productive of
our workers and executives by and large are those
trained under the Look East Policy. They have adopted
the kind of work ethics which have made them readily
employed and productive. Their dedication and loyalty
and their productivity is higher than average. They are
better able to cope with the discipline required of the
work place.
15. They are less prone to be deflected from their
studies and training by such distractions as politics
and anti-social activities. They appear more able to
concentrate on their studies, training and work and to
acquire the necessary skills. Indeed they give less
problems to the Government and the nation.
16. Upon completion of their training or education they
find ready employment in the fields that they qualify.
They are generally less dependent on the Government and
apparently they are satisfactory employees. Naturally
being fluent in Japanese they are largely employed by
Japanese firms. But some do go off to work on their
own.
17. The only regret is that Malaysia is unable to get
as many places in the universities and training
institutions as well as work places for hands-on
training as we would like. We understand the
limitations of places and the policies but we also find
the cost of sending students to Japan and Korea and the
fees of the universities rather high. If the Government
can help we would like to have more places for training
and studies as the institutions in Japan and Korea.
18. Presently there are about 2000 students and
trainees in Japan. This includes students sponsored by
the Government of Malaysia and also by the Government of
Japan and private funded students. The number of
Malaysian students in the Republic of Korea stands at 85
today. Though small in number they will form a
significant contribution to Korean companies operating
in Malaysia.
19. Admittedly, the number of students going to
Japan and the Republic of Korea to further their studies
is small compared to those studying in the west
including Australia and New Zealand. But we cannot
dismiss the contribution made by these few to the ethics
and work culture of Malaysia and to the success of
Malaysia's industrialisation.
20. The Look East Policy has brought the desired
results and has accelerated Malaysia's development
through providing the right kind of workers for
increased foreign investment, for technology transfer
and in-house training. Familiarity with Eastern values
and work environment as well as language ensures ready
acceptance by Japanese and Korean enterprises, and by
others.
21. However, the approaches to implementing the
policy may need to be reviewed and any shortcomings to
be identified and addressed. Nevertheless, the Malaysian
government is very positive and optimistic regarding the
Look East programmes and has no intention to abolish
them. The setting up of the alumni is a good example of
maintaining contacts and exchange of ideas. In this
respect, I am pleased to note that the Malaysian
students who graduated from their studies in the
Republic of Korea under the Look East Policy have set up
an alumni called Alumni Graduan Institusi Korea (AGIKO).
This is a good start for them to contribute their ideas
and inputs through the exchange of I.C.T. in the process
of national development.
22. I would like to record here the appreciation
of the Government of Malaysia for the support and
cooperation that has been provided by the Japanese and
Korean Governments and private sectors to our Look East
Policy. The Look East Policy has become an important
bond in the overall relationship between our countries
and I hope it will further enhance the commitment of
the various Governments involved.
Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri
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